Local mosques help families in need during Ramadan

Volunteers aid in disaster relief, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and providing free health clinics to anyone in need.
By Lauren Bale, May 28, 2018, New Orleans CBS

One box at a time and one food item at a time, local mosques are making sure their members won’t go hungry when they break their fasting for Ramadan.

“We don’t want any family to worry about the grocery bill breaking the bank,” Jenny Yanez explained.

It’s all done through a national Muslim organization called ICNA Relief. Volunteers aid in disaster relief, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and providing free health clinics to anyone in need.

“It’s our calling to serve humanity, not just to serve other Muslims,” Yanez said.

She helped rebuild after Katrina and now she’s focused on building a year-round food pantry in the Metro Area. It’s started small, with donations of canned goods coming in from families both within and outside of the Muslim community.

After dealing with hate and discrimination in the past, Yanez says gestures from non-Muslims mean a lot.

“Together, connectively we build something greater than what we had yesterday,” Yanez said.

Yanez believes it only takes one person or one donation to make a difference.

“You take care of your family first, and your neighbors and the community and that’s how society is taken care of,” Yanez said.